In November 1971, Grace Easterbrook established the Port Macquarie Conservation Society (PMCS).
PMCS campaigned for decades to save Windmill Hill and to protect Port Macquarie’s precious coastline from development.
This Sunday, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) will celebrate 50 years since the establishment of the PMCS formed by environmental trailblazer, Grace Easterbrook.
Our pristine Coastal Walk, from Lighthouse Beach to Westport Park is part of their legacy’s and PMHC will soon install an interpretive panel and signage to honour our environmental heritage.
Krissa Wilkinson said her research revealed, “PMCS also fought to save Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park and supported efforts to gazette Sea Acres National Park. We can also thank them for the preservation of the Historic Courthouse and the site of Mrs York’s Garden”.
Over the past 50 years, conservationists also fought to create many Nature Reserves and National Parks. These include Kattang Nature Reserve, Crowdy Bay and Werrikimbee National Parks. This year also marks 40 years of Port Macquarie Landcare.
“It is important to recognise that these successes were hard won, often against Council and State governments who, at the time did not recognise the value of the natural world,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“Now the region loves to boast about these beautiful destinations and the local economy benefits enormously from these places that were fought for.”
Port Macquarie Hastings Council Cultural Development Officer, Georgina Perri, said the community owes a huge debt of gratitude to the early conservationists of local nature and heritage.
“Through the visionary battles of conservation pioneers many natural and historic local spaces that we now love so much were saved and protected,” she said.
“And never forget their success in fighting excessive high rise, preserving the beauty of our coastline.
“We owe so much to those conservation pioneers, as we do to those many wonderful people who continue to carry the baton for nature and for history, enriching our future.”
Sunday’s event in from 3pm to 5pm at Windmill Hill, Port Macquarie. Please bring your own food and drink to toast our environmental pioneers. Wear a hat and comfortable shoes.
